Life, Critical Illness and Income Protection Advice
Work with us online, or meet us in St Albans, Hertfordshire or London.
Should you fail to disclose or mispresent a fact, then you risk the insurer only paying part of the claim, declining to pay all the claim and possibly declaring the policy invalid.
WELCOME TO THE MARTEL FAMILY
Protection that works for you and your loved ones
Most people arrange life insurance or mortgage protection when buying a home, then rarely review it. But the cover that suited you when you bought your first property may no longer be right once you have a family, a larger mortgage or a different income.
We consider life insurance, critical illness cover and income protection together because each provides a different kind of financial security.
Life insurance can help protect your family if you die. Critical illness cover can provide a lump sum if you are diagnosed with a specified serious illness. Income protection can replace part of your income if illness or injury prevents you from working.
Not everyone needs all three. We’ll review your existing policies and workplace benefits, understand what has changed, and recommend only the protection that genuinely suits your family, finances and priorities.
Get in touch with us by calling on 01727 309 160 (M-F, 9am-6pm) or submitting our online form. When you call, you'll speak to a real person, based in the UK. They'll take your details and your broker will get back to you directly.
HOW WE WORK TOGETHER
Taking things step by step
Whether you are down the road in St Albans, commuting from Harpenden, or dialling in from a different time zone entirely, we keep our process completely transparent
A Friendly Chat
We talk through your plans over the phone or a coffee to see how I can help.
The Search
We explore mortgage options from high street, specialist lenders, and private banks, to find the right fit for your situation.
The Paperwork
Once you send over your basic documents, we handle the application forms and chase the providers.
Our initial conversation is entirely without obligation. If you would like to run some numbers or just want to ask a quick question, drop us a message.
OUR PROTECTION SERVICES
How can we help?
Whether it's protecting your income if you're unable to work, or covering your family with life cover, we'll help you find the right protection for your circumstances. Where something falls outside what we can advise on directly, we work with a specialist partner so you're never left without options.
Life insurance: Cover that pays out to your family if you die during the policy term. We'll help you work out how much cover makes sense and for how long, based on your mortgage, your income, and the people who depend on you.
Critical illness cover: A lump sum payout if you're diagnosed with one of the conditions covered by your policy, things like cancer, heart attack, or stroke. Often taken alongside life insurance, sometimes on its own.
Short-term Accident, Sickness and Unemployment Cover: Pays out monthly for up to 12-24 months if you can't work or are made redundant. Not available to the self-employed due to the redundancy element, but we'll talk through what works for your situation.
Long-term income protection: Replaces part of your income if illness or injury stops you working, for as long as you need it, up to retirement if necessary. Available to the employed and self-employed.
Private medical insurance : Faster diagnosis, private hospital treatment, and choice of consultant, exactly when you need it most. Policies vary a lot in what they cover, so getting the right one matters. We work with a specialist broker who'll help you find cover that actually fits.
Reviewing existing cover: Got policies from a previous mortgage, a previous job, or a previous adviser? We'll look at what you've got, check it still fits, and tell you honestly if it's still right or needs updating.
Family protection planning: Bringing life insurance, critical illness, and income protection together so they work as a whole, rather than three separate policies that don't quite add up.
Get in touch to find out how we can help.
BUSINESS OWNER?
Protect your Business too
If you run your own business, whether as a sole trader, a limited company director, or in partnership, there's a separate set of protections worth knowing about. Key person cover, shareholder protection, and relevant life policies all do different jobs depending on how your business is structured.
This is a specialist area with its own considerations, and we cover it in more detail on our Self Employed page. If you're a business owner and want more information, get in touch and we'll introduce you to a specialist broker to get it set up.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Clear Insurance & Protection Advice in St Albans & Beyond
Getting cover for things that might not ever happen is often something we put off so we don't have to think about it. But here at MPF we make the process as simple as possible, here are a few questions we get asked regularly.
Do I need life insurance if I have a mortgage?
It's not a requirement, but most people with a mortgage and financial dependants, like children or elderly relatives, choose to have life insurance in place. It means that if you died during the mortgage term, your family wouldn't be left with the mortgage to pay on their own. Giving them one less thing to worry about.
What's the difference between life insurance and critical illness cover?
Life insurance pays out a lump sum if you die during the policy term. Critical illness cover pays out a one-off lump sum if you're diagnosed with a serious illness covered by your policy, while you're still alive.
What's the difference between Income Protection and ASU (Accident, Sickness and Unemployment) cover?
Income Protection replaces part of your income if you're unable to work due to illness or injury, usually for as long as you need it. ASU is typically a shorter-term policy that's often linked to your mortgage payments specifically, and can include cover for redundancy.
If you're self-employed, it's worth knowing that the unemployment element of ASU usually doesn't apply to you. Regardless of your situation, we'll help you understand which type of cover, if either, makes sense for you.
Will I need a medical for life insurance or critical illness cover?
It depends on the policy, the level of cover, and your circumstances. Some applications go through with just a few health questions, others need a medical or GP report. We'll let you know what to expect before you apply.
Can I get cover if I've had health issues in the past?
In many cases, yes. Pre-existing conditions don't automatically rule you out, though they may affect the terms or the price. It's always worth asking, rather than assuming you won't be covered.
Have another question? We're happy to help.
OTHER INSURANCE SERVICES
Home and general insurance
We focus on life, critical illness, and income protection. For buildings, contents, and landlord insurance, we work with a specialist broker, who we're happy to introduce you to.